Process and apparatus for producing artificial filaments, threads, and the like



p 17, F. J. COLLINGS 2,215,391

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, ANDTHE LIKE Filed Dec. 14,- 1935 2 he s-Sheet l INVENTOR 'FR-ANCIS JOHNCOLLINGS BY HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1940. ,F. J. COLLINGS 2,215,391

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, ANDTHE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1935 3 2 Z 1 ea Pm $5 n R o mTLT NOT E A w w H mm 5 C N A R F VIII/III].

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Patented Sept. 17, 1940 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR, PRODUC- ENGARTIFICIAL FILAIWENTS,THREADS,

AND THE LIKE ,Franeis JohnC'ollings, Coventry, England, assignor toGourtaulds, Limited, London, England, a

- British company Application December 14, 1935, Serial No. 54,495 Y 17Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture and production of artificialfilaments, threads and the like (hereinafter referred to as threads) ofvarying thickness or denier, and to apparatus therefor.

I have found that threads of varying thickness or denier can be producedby moving the spinneret during spinning so that the distance between thespinneret and the means for drawing the thread away varies. The termmeans for drawing the thread away includes notonly the winding apparatusbut also a wheel, guide or other device over which the thread is drawnto,- wards the winding device.

While the reciprocation of the spinneret is being carried out, thespinning solution may be Supplied to the spinneret at a constant rate orat a varying rate. The thread may also be wound up at a constant speedor at a varying speed. In this way further Variations may be obtained inthe thread. v

A previously formed thread of any suitable material can be run into thethread of varying thickness produced according to this invention, acombined thread thus being obtained.

I eifect the reciprocation of the spinneret in the line of the directionof the motion of the thread.

The extent and speed of the said reciprocation may be varied in eitherdirecton andthe intervals between consecutive reciprocations may beregular or of any desired irregularity in either direction.

A suitable apparatus for efiecting the reciprocation of the spinneret isshown in the accompanying drawings which illustrate part of a spinningapparatus embodying winding means comprising the usual centrifugalspinning pots, but it will be understood that the invention is notrestricted to the centrifugal process.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, partly in section,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Figure 1, showing the means forreciprocating the spinnerets,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Figure 1', showing the method ofmounting the reciprocat ing bar on the coagulating bath and Figure 5shows diagrammatically the general nature of the thread obtained.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the spinning solution is forcedby thepumps I through flexible tubing 2 andemerges from the spinnerets 3 intoa coagulating medium 4 contained in a suitable bath 5. The resultingthreads 6 pass over guides l and 8, around godets 9 and descend throughfunnels Ill to form a cake in centrifugal spinning pots H driven bymotors H. are carried in the usual manner by arms l 2 pivotally mountedat i3 on a traverse bar it to which the necessary vertical reciprocationis imparted by traverse mechanism IS. The pivotal mounting of the armsi2 is for the purpose of lifting the funnels l0 clear of the pots llwhen it is desired to remove finished cakes. The godets 9- are driven inthe usual manner through bevel gearing I6 and means (not shown) may beprovided so that the speed of rotation of the godets 9 may be varied asdesired.

The spinnerets 3 are carried by a common reciprocating bar ll which ismounted on one edge of the bath 5, the method of mounting being asfollows: Vertical rollers l8 are provided The funnels l0 on the upperedge of one side of the bath 5 and these engage the sides oflongitudinal slots 19 provided in the reciprocating bar H (see Figure4). allow of the maximum desired reciprocation of the bar H. Anextension 26 of the reciprocation bar I! carries a buffer 2! and alsocarries at its extremity a stud 22. To the end of the bath 5 adjacenttheextension 29 is secured a bracket 23 which extends beyond the end ofthe said The length of the slots H) are sufficient to extension 28 andcarriesat its end a stud M. A

coil spring 25 engages the stud 22 atone end and the stud 24 at theother end. Thebuffer 2| consists of a bracket between the jaws of whichis mounted a roller 26. A disc 2i is rotatably mounted in such positionthat when it is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction shownprojections 28 thereon engage the roller 26 of the buffer 2| and movethelatter, and consequently the reciprocating bar ll, to the right.

I1, the maximum of which is indicated at A,

may be varied both in the forward and return direction by varying thedisposition and shape of the projections 28 and also by making theprojections of diiferentfheight, as indicatedat 28', the roller 26riding past a shorter projection earlier; than in: the case of. alonger: one. It: will thus be seen that the stroke of the reciprocatingbar may be varied as desired. The disc 21 is driven from a motor 29through chain gearing 30, as shown in Figure 3. By varying the speed ofthe motor 29, a further meansof varying the stroke of the reciprocatingbar is offered.

The effect of the reciprocation of the bar I! is the production ofthreads in which thick portions 6' alternate with thin portions 6 asshown on an enlarged scale in Figure 5. During the forward stroke of thereciprocating bar H, the spinnerets 3 are moved away from the guides Iso that the threads 6 are drawn away'from the spinnerets 3 at greaterspeed. Provided the spinning solution is supplied to the spinnerets 3 bythe pumps I at constant speed, the increase in speed at which thethreads are drawn away from the spinnerets results in a reduction in thedenier of the threads. During the return stroke of the reciprocating barI! under the action of the spring 25, the spinnerets move rapidlytowards the guides 1 whereby the speed of movement of the threadsissuing from the spinnerets is counteracted to a greater or less extentand this results in the production of thicker threads. According to thisinvention threads are obtained in which the thick portions whichalternate with the thin portions may not only be irregularly spaced butmay be of different thickness and length, so that practically everyconceivable type of denier variation can be produced over any length ofyarn.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or deniercomprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, aplurality of guides over which the threads eX- truded from thespinnerets and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a buffer mountedon said reciprocating bar, a rotatable disc provided with projectionswhich by engagement with the said buffer move the said reciprocating barin one direction and means for returning said bar in the oppositedirection when said buffer rides past said projections, whereby saidspinnerets are reciprocated towards and away from said guides.

2. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or deniercomprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, aplurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinneretsand coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a bufier mounted on saidreciprocating bar, a rotatable disc provided with projections ofdifferent height which by engagement with the said bufier move the saidreciprocating bar in one direction and means for returning said bar inthe opposite direction when said 'buiier rides past said projections,whereby said spinnerets are reciprocated towards and away from saidguides.

3. Apparatus for producing threads of Varying thickness or deniercomprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar aplurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinneretsand coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a buffer mounted on saidreciprocating bar, a rotatable disc provided with projectionsirregularly spaced around its periphery which by engagement with thesaid buffer move the said reciprocating bar in one direction and meansfor returning said bar in the opposite direction when said buffer ridespast said projections, whereby said spinnerets are reciprocated towardsand: away from said guides.

4. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or deniercomprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, aplurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinneretsand coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a buffer mounted on saidreciprocating bar, a rotatable disc capable of rotation at varyingspeeds and provided with projections of different height irregularlyspaced around its periphery which by engagement with said buffer movesaid reciprocating bar in one direction and means for returning said barin the opposite direction when said buifer rides past said projections,whereby said spinnerets are r'eciprocated towards and away from the saidguides.

5. Apparatus for producing threads of varying thickness or deniercomprising a plurality of spinnerets mounted on a reciprocating bar, aplurality of guides over which the threads extruded from the spinneretsand coagulated in a coagulating medium pass, a plurality of godetscapable of rotation at varying speed which draw the threads from thesaid guides and pass them towards a plurality of spinning pots, a buffermounted on said reciprocating'bar, a rotatable disc capable'of rotationat varying speed and provided with projections of different heightirregularly spaced around its periphery which by engagement with saidbufier move said reciprocating bar in one direction and a spring forreturning said bar in the opposite direction when said buffer rides pastsaid projections, whereby the spinnerets are reciprocated towards andaway from said guides.

6. Process for the production of artificial filaments, said processcomprising drawing the filaments at substantially uniform linear speedin the course of their production and momentarily producing a stoppagein the drawing operation, thereby imparting a variation in denier to thefilaments.

7. Process for the production of artificial filaments said processcomprising drawing the filaments at substantial linear speed in thecourse of their production and momentarily producing a stoppage in thedrawing operation by moving the spinneret substantially in the directionof drawing, thereby imparting a variation in denier to the filaments.

8. Process of producing artificial threads of varying denier, whichcomprisesextruding spinning solution through a spinneret into acoagulating medium, and in the course of production of the threadsmoving the spinneret back and forth substantially alongthe line ofmovement of the filaments, and during said back and forth movement ofthe spinneret drawing the threads away under substantial tension therebypreventing the production of curls, spirals or crimps.

9. Process of producing artificial threads of varying denier, whichcomprises extruding spinning solution through a spinneret into a coagu-'lating medium, passing the filaments to a guide and drawing the threadaway from said guide under tension, and in the course of production ofthe threads moving the spinneret substantially in the direction ofdrawing to decrease the tension on the length of said thread betweensaid guide and the spinneret and alternately moving the spinneret in theopposite direction to increase said tension and controlling the movementof the spinneret to confine its path to substantially the line ofmovement of the filaments from the spinneret to the guide, the tensionon the thread 1 and the control of the movement of the spinnerettogether preventing the production of curls, spirals and crimps.

10. Process of producing artificial threads of varying denier, whichcomprises extruding spinning solution through a spinneret into acoagulating medium and drawing the thread away, and in the course ofproduction of the threads moving the spinneret substantially in thedirection of drawing to decrease the resultant drawing and produce athickened portion during said movement, and alternately moving thespinneret in the opposite direction to increase the resultant drawingand produce a thinned portion during said opposite movement, andirregularly repeating said spinneret movements while a thickened and athinned portion produced by a previous cycle are subjected to the samedrawing action.

11. Process of producing threads of varying denier which comprisesextruding spinning solution through a spinneret into a coagulating bathand drawing the thread'away at such linear speed and tension that theaxis of the thread forms a catenary which lies in a substantiallystraight line and moving the spinneret axially and alternately butirregularly in opposite directions substantially along said line ofmovement of the thread, and maintaining the face of the spinneretsubstantially perpendicular to the thread while substantially preventinglateral movement of the spinneret.

12. Process for "the production of artificial filaments, said processcomprising extruding spinning solution through a spinneret element intoa coagulating medium, passing the filaments to a guide element, drawingthe filaments from said guide element at substantially uniform linearspeed in the course of their production,

and momentarily producing a stoppage in the drawing operation byrelative movement of said elements, thereby imparting a variation indenier to the filaments.

13. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments comprising aspinneret element and a thread guide element for the filaments and anoscillating member having one of said elements thereon, and means forcausing said member to operate slowly in one direction and rapidly inthe opposite direction, whereby an abrupt variation in denier isimparted to the filaments.

14. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments comprising aspinneret element and a thread guide element for the filaments, andmeans for causing one of said elements to operate in one direction andrapidly in the opposite direction, whereby an abrupt variation in denieris imparted to said filaments.

15. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments comprising aspinneret element and a thread guide element for the filaments, and anoscillating member having one of said elements thereon and means forcausing the said oscillating member to operate at a substantiallyconstant speed in one direction and rapidly in the opposite direction,said means including a cam, a cam follower, and means connecting saidfollower with the oscillatory member, the construction and arrangementbeing such that an abrupt variation of denier is imparted to thefilaments.

16. Apparatus for producing threads of varying denier, comprising aspinneret mounted on a movable element, a guide over which the threadextruded from the spinneret and coagulated in a coagulating medium pass,a rotatable disk provided with projections which move said element inone direction, and means for returning said element in the oppositedirection.

17. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments, comprisingmeans for drawing the filaments at substantially uniform linear speed inthe course of their production, and means for momentarily producing astoppage in the drawing operation, thereby imparting a variation indenier to the filaments, said apparatus comprising a guide and aspinning device relatively movable with respect to each other and meansfor producing said relative movement comprising a carrier having abuffer, and arotatable disk provided with projections which byengagement with said buifer move said carrier in one direction, andmeans for returning said carrier in the opposite direction when saidbuffer rides past said projections, whereby relative reciprocation ofsaid guide and spinning device toward and away from each other isproduced.

FRANCIS JOHN COLLINGS.

